Wrapping-machine



E. L. SMITH.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 13, 19:9.

Patented Feb. 10,1920. 7 3 SHEETSSHEET I- INVENTOR [W ATTORN EYS.

E. L. SMITH.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. I919- 1 330,354. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ATTORNEYS.

E. L. SMITH.

WRAPPING MAGHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR-18,19l9.

Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

ELMER LOVELL SMITH,

MASSACHUSETTS.

WRAPPING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I. Emma Lovnu. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residin at Springfield, in the county of Hamp en and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrapping-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrapping machines and, in its present embo iment, relates more particularly to machines for wrappin relatively small articles, such as beef on es, loaf sugar, and the like, although it is not necessarily restricted to such use.

In the wrapping of such articles, it is common to fold three sides of the tubular end extensions of the wrapper against the ends of the articles to form What may be called ears,-being rather pointed extensions which project beyond one side face of the article at right angles therewith.

hese extensions are subsequently turned in toward one another against said side face of the article. Each ear, however, consists of several wrapper folds, and it is difficult to so make these folds by the folding devices that the folds stay put. This ditliculty can be eliminated if the several folds of the ear are ironed down and creased after the folding operation, but it is desirable to effect this ironing'operation without in any way slowing up the machine.

Accordingly, the invention has for one object to provide an effective means for ironing down and creasin r the superposed folds of the ears and, re erably, for expedition, to accomplish t iis object durin an already necessary movement of the artlcles.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide ironing means which combine with a plunger for moving the partially folded articles, such plunger being arranged to engage the article so that the ears will be disposed contiguous with and overlapped thereon, whereby the ironing means may efl'ectively crease the folds against said plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined folder and ejector device, whereby one fold of the wrapping is made coincidentally with the ejection of the article.

Another object is to provide an improved Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 18. 1919. Serial No.

Patented Feb.

turret construction with means ent of the turret, but cooperating therewith in an advantageous manner tion in the turret and the removal of the articles therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to specifically improve the coordination of various moving elements of the machine.

A further object is to provide in a wrapping machine generally improved mechanical structure.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the followin description and in the illustrative einbo iment of the invention in th which:

Figure l is a side elevational view machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional lan view thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are illustrative of different pin of the articles.

T e machine will first e accompanying drawings, in

of a

perspective views steps in the wrapit, in the present embodiment of the invention, is adapted to perform. Articles a, such as beef cubes, loaf sugar, or the like, are pushed against a wrapper w and carried into a pocket of an intermittentlymovable tumble box 10, whereby thewrapper IS laid in U-form about three sides of the article, leaving two pro'ecting extensions to subsequently be laid own against the article in order to inclose the latter except for its ends. One of these extensions 6 is laid down by a folding blade 11 before the turret commences its next step of movement. The other extension 0 is laid down in overlapping relation with extension 6 as the turret moves away from article-receiving position by a stationary folder 12, herein shown. as an arcuate shield encompassing substantially half of the periphery of the turret, The folder-shield 12 holds the folds b and 0 until the article is ejected from the turret. As the latter comes to rest to receive a second article, the upper be briefly de-- scribed in connection with the work which 68 drii 'es by a chain the geater part of end extensions (1 of the wrapper are laid down by a pair of folding blades 13 and shortly thereafter one of the side end extensions e is overlapped upon fold (I by another pair of folders 14. The partially wrapped article then appears. as shown in Fig. 6, and on movement of the turret the 7 described is iargely used for small articles. such as those above-enumerated. but the difficulty heretofore has been that the ears" do not lie flat and tend to open up. This trouble may be traced to the several thicknesses of wrapper of which the ears are composed. According to this invention, the prior ditliculties are eliminated largelv through the ironing down of these ears. has, the articles wrapped. as shown in Fig. 7. are engaged on the face h by an ejector 16 which fits between the ears 9. This eiiector 16 pushes the partially wrapped artic es between rolls 17. springressed toward each other, and these rolls. li'bit down the ears against those faces of the ejector to which they are contiguous. This operation effectively flattens out the ears 9, and creases them along the edges of the article over which the are subsequently to be folded. The articles are carried by ejector 16 into line with a discharge chute 18. In such position. a folder 19 engages one ear 1 and folds it a inst face h, and such folder is carried y an arm 20 which functions to push the article into chute 18. As the artic e is forced into thechute, one of its upstanding walls 21 folds the other car g. t the entrance end of chute 18, the wall 21 is offset to receive the folder 19, so that the first folded ear 9 is held flat against the, face It until it can be held by the wall 21. The wrapped artiage.

The stvle of wrapping cles may be carried alon chute 18 by any suitable means, as by a utment with one. another.

The general frame structure and main driving connections of the machine will next be described. A bed A, sup orted by a pedestal 13, carries two space upstanding side frames C, betweenwhich are housed V the driving mechanism. The space between frames C is inclosed by ahood D which mav readily be removed to access to the interior mechanism.

he main drive shaft is shown at 22 and 23 and suitable sprockets two cam shafts 2t and 25. The shaft 25 drives, by intermeshing gears 26. a shaft 27, and this shaft drives. by a chain 28 and suitable sprockets. a shaft 29. Shafts 27 and 29 are the drive shafts for the wrapperfeeding mechanism. The shafts 22, 24, 25, 27, and 29. together with rock-shafts 30, 31, 32, and 33 and a turret drive-shaft 34, extend between and have their ends journaled in the side frames C. The turret driveshaft 34 projects beyond each side frame and cam-shaft 2i extends beyond the front side frame C while cam-shaft 25 extends beyond the rear side frame C. On that end of shaft which projects beyond the rear side frame C, is a crank 35 (Figs. 2 and ll which operates :1 Geneva cam 36 rotatably mounted on a stud 37 secured to the rear side frame. The Geneva cam 36, as shown. is arranged to be turned onesixth of a revolution on each revolution of shaft 25 and drives by gears 38 the turret shaft 34. the gear ratio being such that onesixth of a revolution of cam 36 turns shaft 34 one-quarter of a revolution.

The turret 10 is secured to that portion of shaft 34, which projects beyond the front side frame C. and preferably is removably secured by means exemplified in part by the knurled nut 39 (Fig. 2). The turret 10 is of peculiar construction having its outer peripheral portion in a plane axially offset from its inner portion, so as to afford an annular recess 40 (Fig. 2). In the outer peripheral portion of turret 10 are four equally spaced radial slots 41. which form the article-receiving pockets and extend farther than necessary for this purpose to communicate with the recess 40. Adjacent the outer portion of each slot is a springpressed wall 42 to yieldingly engage the articles and hold them in the slots 41. Cooperating with the turret 10 are two arms 43 and it which are reciprocable in the horizontal plane which includes the axis of the turret. These arms 43 and 44 are disposed within the recess 40 during movement of the turret 10, but, during intervals of rest, move outwardly in opposite directions from the recess through two diametrically opposite slots 41. One arm, 44, carries the ejector 16 heretofore described, such ejector forming an L-shaped end for arm 44 of such length as to carry the partially wrapped articles from the turret 10 into line with the discharge chute 18. The other arm 43 carries a plate 45 (Fig. 2) which is yield' able radially with respect to the turret. 10, as indicated.

The arm 43 is fixed to a bar 46 (Figs, 2 and 3) which in turn is fixed to a horizontal rod 47 and slidably receives a second parallel rod 48. The rods 47 and 43 are slidably mounted in brackets 49 secured to the rear face of the front side frame G. The

arm 44 is fixed to a bar 50 which is fixed to the rod 48 and .'-llll2ll)l receives the rod 47. The two rods 47 and 4B are simultancously moved in opposite directions by a single actuating meaus.a cam 51 secured on the cam shaft 24. Such cam actuatcs a cam fork 52 which is pivotally connected to a rearward extension 53 of a lever 54 which is mounted intermediate its ends on the rock-shaft 31 and has its upper and lower ends connected by links 55 and .36 to the bars 50 and 46. respectively. (am 51 is so constructed as to move these bars and their arms 43 and H to their outermost and illustrated positions shortly after the turret commences its next step of movement.

The articles are supplied automatically or by hand upon a horizontally traveling belt 57 and between spaced stationary side guides .58. Belt 57 carries the articles into the plane of turret 10. the foremost article a. being arrested by an abutment 59 Fig. 52). Belt 57 is driven by a pulley 60 fixed to a shaft 61 rotatably supported by the front side frame C. Shaft 61 carries a. helical pinion 6:2 which is driven by a siinilar gear 63 fixed on the outer end of the cam-shaft 24. Belt 57, therefore. travels continuously and in a line parallel to the axis of turret 10. The upper lap of belt 57 is supported in its horizontal travel by a bar 64 supported at one end from the front side frame It is to he understood that bar 61 and belt 57 are suitably supported at their other ends although such supporting means have been omitted from the drawings as unnecessary to an understanding: of the present invention.

The wrapper-feeding mechanism will next be described. Such mechanism may be of any suitable type, and there has been shown for illustrative purposes a mechanism for feeding the wrapping material in strip form from a roll 65 and for severing such strip at properly timed intervals to form the individual wrappers w. The roll 65 is rotatably supported from the front side frame C, and the strip from such roll is led to and between a pair of unwinding rolls 66 and 67, the former being driven continuously from the shaft 29 described and the latter being supported by a lever 68 which is urged toward roll 66 by a spring 69. From the rolls 66 and 67, the strip is carried under a guide 70 pivoted at 71 and over an idler roll 72, thence passing vertically downwardly into a chute 73 supported by the front side frame C. Feed rolls 74 and 75, suitably geared together as indicated. engage the wrapper strip between them and feed it between coacting shear blades 76 and 77 and thence downwardly between suitable guides in front of an open slot 41 of the turret. The roll '74 is driven by shaft 27 and drives by the gearing described the roll which is segmental so that the strip is fed intermittently. ()n the end of shaft 27 is a crank pin 78 which is connected by a link 79 to a lever 80 pivoted to the frame of the feed chute 73. The lower end of this lever carries the movable shear blade 76, the stationary blade 77 being secured to the feed chute 75. The shears are thus coordinated with the feed rolls by being driven thereby, and it will be seen that, while the feed rolls 74 and 75 are in engagement, the blades 76 and 77 are separated, the blade 76 moving to cut the web only after the feeding of the latter has ceased. The feed rolls 74 and 75 and the unwinding rolls 66 and 67 turn at equal angular velocity, but the feed rolls, being of larger diameter, travel at higher surface speed than rolls 66 and 67, so that a portion of the strip continuously unwound by rolls 66 and 67 is ra idly fed forward intermittently by the rol s 7- and75.

he articles a. are fed against the wrapper w and into the turret 10 by a plunger 81 which is horizontally reciprocable in a guide 82 secured to the front side frame C. Plunger 81 is connected by a link 83 to a lever 84 pivoted to the front side frame C. and this lever is oscillated by a crank 85 fixed on the described shaft 24. The crank 85 is so disposed relatively to the described cam 51 that the plunger 81 is advanced to engage an article a, carry it against the wrapper w and plate 45 prior to the inward movement of arm 43. The latter commences such movement only after the springpressed plate 45 has been moved inwardly a slight amount, and then the plunger 81 and arm +3 travel in unison until the article has been positioned in its pocket in the tur- Then the plunger 81 draws back into the illustrated position and remains there until the turret again comes to rest. The arm 43, however, continues its inward movement until it becomes disposed in recess +10 where it dwells until the turret 10 again comes to rest.

Previous to the movement of the turret, the folder 11 operates as described. This folder consists of a flat thin blade carried by the upper end ofa slide 87 which is vertically reciprocable in suitable guides supported from the front side frame (I. A lever 88 fixed to the outer end of the rockshaft 30 is connected by a link 89 to the slide 87 whereby the latter may be actuated. On the rock shaft 30 and between frames (Fig. 3) is fixed a lever 90 which is piv otally connected to a cam fork 91. The latter bears a roll for actuation by a cam 92 (Fig. 2) fixed on shaft 24. Cam 92 is constructed to raise folder 11 shortly before the turretlcommences its movement and holds it lifted until the turret starts to move for the purpose of holding the fold bauntil the fold 0 can be overlapped upon it by the 11 to be lowered .18. This movement occurs folder-shield 12. Cam 92 then causes folder and to be held in lowered position until a succeeding cycle of operation.

The folders 13 and 14 are carried by levers 93 and 94 which are fixed to the rockshafts 33 and 32, respectively. It is to be understood that these folders are arranged in pairs, the blades of each pair being fixed to opposite sides of their lever so as to straddle the turret. The shafts 3'2 and 33 have fixed thereon arms 95 and 96 to which are pivotally attached cam forks 97 and 98, respectively. Cam forks 97 and 98 are arranged for actuation by cams 99 and 100 both fixed on the cam shaft 25. Cam 100 is so constructed as to move folders 13 downwardly to make their fold shortly after the turret comes to rest and then to retract the folders. (am 99 is arranged to move folders 14 toward folding position as folders 13 start to retract, the two sets of folders being timed so that the folders 13 do not fully release their folds (l until the folders 14 commence to overlap the folds 0 upon folds 10. The folders 14 are held in folding position until the turret of movement 'so as to hold folds e until folds f can be overlapped upon them by the foldershields 15. The folders 14 are retracted by cam 99 before the turret again comes to rest.

As the turret comes to rest, the arms 43 and 44 are moved outwardly from recess 40 into the slots 41 of the turret, and on such movement the ejector 10, carried by arm 44, pushes the partially wrapped article out of the turret, between rolls 17 and into line with chute..18. The rolls 17 are carried by bell crank levers 101 pivoted to a bracket 102 on the front side frame C. A spring 103 connects the levers 101 to force them toward one another to the limit 5 defined by a stop 104, with which a lug 104' on the short arm of one hell crank 101 en gages. The short arm of one hell crank 101 overlaps the short arm of the other, and the two are connected by a pin and slot arrangement 105 so that each is caused to move equal angular distances.

The ejector arm 20, heretofore described, is pivoted to the bracket 102 which also suports the discharge chute 18. Arnr20 has an integral extension 106; which extends rearwardly throu h the front side frame 0 and is connected y a link 107 to a block 108 fixed on the reciprocable rod 48. The arm 20 is movable from the illustrated position toward and partially into the chute during the return movement of arms 43 and 44 into recess 40, since the arm 20 is actuated from the same cam which actuates the arms 43 and 44. Thus, during intervals of movement of the turret, the arm 20 remains H1 its outer position and moves inwardly only starts its next step ejector 10, in addition to its ejecting function, thus provides a smooth hard surface against which the ears I may be effectively rolled and ironed down.

Another feature of the invention is the peculiar turret construction with which is combined the arms 43 and 44 which move simultaneously, but in opposite directions. The coordination of the movement of the arms 43 and 4-1,, as effected by the single actuating means is thought important as is also the arrangement whereby the ejecting arm '20 is coupled with the arms 43 and 44 for coordinated actuation by their actuating means. The combining of the folder 19 and ejecting arm 20 is also thought important. Thus, four members performing four separate functions have been coupled together for simultaneous actuation in a diversity of directions from a single actuating means.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

W'hat I claim is- 1. In a wrapping machine, wrapping mechanism including folding means to form a wrapper extension composed of a pluralit of overlapping folds and projecting beyond one face of the article, and cooperatin devices engageable with opposite faces 0 said extension, one of said devices being movable toward the other to force the extension against the latter and iron down the folds thereof.

2. In a wrapping machine, means to wrap an article leaving two wrapper extensions projecting therefrom, a member engageable with the article and disposed between said extensions, and means to press the extensions toward and from them down against said member.

3. In a wrapping machine, a carrier for articles and their wrappers, means to wrap each article while in the carrier leaving two wrapper extensions projecting therefrom, means engageable with the article between said extensions to eject the article from the carrier, and means engageable with the extensions to flatten them against said ejecting means.

4. In a wrapping machine, means to move a partially wrapped article havin a wrapper extension made up of several olds, such means being so engageable with the. article carrier, and means arranged in the ath of ejection of the articles to forcesa1 extensions against the ejecting means.

6. In a wrapping machine, a carrier'for articles and the r wra pers, means to wrap each article while in t e carrier leaving two wrapper extensions projecting therefrom,

means engageable with the article between said extensions to eject the article from the carrier, and means to roll the extensions against the ejecting means.

7. In a wrapping machine, a carrier for articles and them wrappers, means to wrap each article while in the carrier leaving two wrapper extensions rojectin'g therefrom, means engageable wit the article between said extensions to eject the article from the carrier, and means to roll the extensions against theejecting means during their ejection from the carrier.

8. In a wrapping machine, a carrier for articles and their wra pers, means to Wrap each article while in t e carrier leaving two wrapper extensions plrojecting therefrom, means engageable wit the article between saidextensions to eject the article from the carrier, rolls between which the article travels as it is ejected, and means ieldingly urginlg said rolls toward one anot er 9. n a wrapping machine, a carrier for articles and their wrappers, wrap ing mechanismv operable on the articles w ile in the carrier, reciprocable means operable on one stroke to eject the articles from the latter,

and means operable by and during the other stroke of the reciprocable means to move the ejected articles in another direction.

10. In a wrapping machine, a carrier for articles and them wrappers, wrap ihg mechanism operable on the articles w ile in the carrier, a chute to carry the wrapped articles, reciprocable means operable on one stroke to move the latter from the carrier into line with the chute, and means actuated by the reciprocable means and operable on the other stroke to move the articles into said chute.

11. In a wrapping machine, a carrier for articles and their wrappers, wrapping mechanism operable on the articles while in the carrier, a chute to carry the vwrapped articles a reciprocable ejector operable on one strolre to carry an article from the carrier into line with said chute, a pivoted arm connected to said ejector to be oscillated thereby and operable to engage the ejected articles during the other stroke of the ejector and carry them-into said chute.

12. In a wrapping machine, an intermittently operable turret provided with an annular recess in one face thereof and slots leading radially from the recess to the peripher of the turret, two arms having their ends isposed in said recess durin intervals of movement of the turret, an means operable during intervals of rest of theturret to simultaneously move them radially outward from the recess into difierent slots and back again.

13. In a wrapping machine, a supporting frame, an intermittently operable turret rotatably supported therefrom, an annular re-' cess in that face of the turret adjacent said frame, the other face of the turret being closed, slots leading radially from the recess to the periphery of the turret, two arms slidably su ported behind said frame and extending tlierethrough with their ends disposed in said recess during intervals of motion of the turret, and a common actuating means to simultaneously move them radially outward from the recess into different slots and back again.

14. In a wrapping machine, two spaced frames, means to inclose the space between the frames, an intermittently operable turret supported outside said frames and having in its inner face an annular groove, diametrically opposed slots provided in the turret and leading radially from said recess to its periphery, parallel reciprocating slides mounted within said frames, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and connected at one end with'one and at the other end with the other of said slides, an arm carried by each slide and extending outwardly through one side frame with its end disposed in said recess when the turret, is in motion, and means within said space to rock said lever during intervals of rest of the turret so thatsaid arms are simultaneously moved in opposite directions from said recess into opposite slots of the turret.

15. In a wrapping machine, an intermittently operable turret provided with an annular recess in one face thereof and slots leading radially from the recess to the periphery of the turret, two arms having their ends disposed in said recess during intervals of movement of the turret, means operable during intervals of rest of the turret to simultaneously move them radially outward from the recess into difl'erent slots and back again, one of said arms operable to eject an article'from one of said slots, a discharge chute with which the ejected article alines, and means connected for actuation to one of said arms and operable to move the ejected articles into said chute.

16. In a wrapping machine, a turret having radial wrapping pockets in its eriphcry and an annular groove 'in one ace to connect the inner ends of said pockets, two

arms positioned during intervals of motion of the turret in said recess, a single mechanism operable when the turret'comes to rest to move each arm radially outward from the recess into a different slot and back again, means to feed articles and their wrappers into one slot against one of said arms, 10

mechanism to wrap the articles while in the turret leavin a projecting wra per extension to be su sertuently folded, time other of said arms opera 1e to eject an article from the turret, and means operable from the 15 last-named arm to fold sald extension.

ELMER LOVELL SMITH.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,336,354, granted February 10,

1920, upon the application of Elmer Lovell Smith, of Springfield, Massachusetts,

'for an improvement in Wrapping-Machines, an error appears in the printed specifibatidn oorreetion as follows: Page 4, line 116, claim 2, for the word "from" road iron; and that the said letters Patent should be read with this oorrection therein that the same maybnform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofioe. I

Signed end sealed this 30th day of March. A 1)., 1920.

[emu-.1 M. H. CQULSTON,

Acting Gornm'woiomr of Patents. 0!. 93-4. 

